The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public
Health (DPH) is currently investigating an outbreak of bloodstream
infections caused by Elizabethkingia.

The majority of patients acquiring this infection are over the age of
65, and all patients have a history of at least one underlying serious
illness.

At this time, the source of these infections is unknown and the Department is working diligently to contain this outbreak.

The Department has alerted health care providers, infection
preventionists and laboratories statewide and provided information as
well as treatment guidance for this outbreak. After that initial
guidance was sent, there has been a rapid identification of cases and
healthcare providers have been able to treat and improve outcomes for
patients.

Between November 1, 2015 and March 9, 2016 there have been 48 cases of Elizabethkingia anophelis infections reported to DPH.*